The original townscape still remains in the old town of Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, which thrived as the principal city of the Usuki Domain of the Inaba clan. A unique town scape with narrow roads, being cut through hilly terrain made of the volcanic ashes from Mt. Aso, characterizes this old town. The paths paved with stones, exterior walls with white plaster, samurai houses with roofs tiled massively, Buddhist temples standing side by side, and so on...they would not have changed at all since. When we stroll around this quarter, the old well as shown in the second picture would come into our sight. This well was also made by the rock from volcanic ashes, and was the best public well in this neighborhood. The locals used to draw the best drinking water from this well in those years. This well is out of use now though, I feel as if the local housewives still gathered around here for a well-side gossip.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
